ASU Hockey Signs Elite Goaltender Robert Levin

With more names continuing to roll in, Arizona State has announced the addition of goaltender Robert Levin to the 2013 recruiting class.

"Getting a player of his caliber is huge for us. Robert was literally offered spots by multiple NCAA Division I programs. He is a great fit for us and has a great head on his shoulders and brings a really polished game in net. He trains very hard on becoming a better goalie and those are the kind of players we want at ASU. We are really pumped he chose ASU," head coach Greg Powers said.

Levin played two seasons in the Eastern Junior Hockey League (EJHL) for the South Shore Kings and put up impressive numbers. The Highland Park, Illinois native played in 42 games this season and finished the year 19-15 with a .913 save percentage and a 3.20 goals against average.

Levin can single-handedly win games, as he recorded two shutouts within an eight game span. In his lone playoff appearance, he stopped 37 of the 41 shots he faced.

"I had heard great things about the hockey program and school, and around Christmas time I emailed coach Powers expressing interest in the program. We talked for a while and he really sold me on the idea," Levin said. "I even saw the team play at Nationals in Chicago. Seeing the quality of play of the team and how close the guys were made me really want to be apart of it and I'm looking forward to starting my own ASU career this fall."

In an unusual case, Powers saw a top-tier recruit approached him on becoming a Sun Devil, and it was an easy sell. Levin had a knack for finding the leader board in the EJHL as he was second in minutes played (1948:37), third in saves (1082), and fourth with 19 wins.

The 6-foot-1 netminder is also hovering in the top-ten with his save percentage and goals against average compared to other goalies that have played in at least 30 games.

"The EJHL is somewhat of an unknown league to people out West and in Western Canada, but what people don't know is that relatively speaking outside of the USHL, more players in the EJHL go DI than any other league. Robert led that league in many categories and ended up really being the right guy for us because he truly wanted to be a Sun Devil," Powers said.

Levin was drafted in the eighth round to the United States Hockey League, but will instead attend Arizona State in the fall.

In 2011, Levin had a 3.00 goals against average, but stepped up his game in the postseason. In three playoff games, his cut his GAA in half and his save percentage sky-rocketed to a sterling .959.

"As a goaltender, the most important thing I can do on the ice is to keep calm no matter what is going on around me. I think that's the biggest thing I can bring to help ASU reach its goal of a national championship," Levin said.

Levin comes from a hockey family being from the Chicago area and he will be a tremendous asset to an already proven goaltending core for four years.

"Coming to a program that is coming off a Final Four appearance at Nationals and is only getting better is something I'm excited to become apart of. I think the best of the whole thing is just knowing how good this program is and how it's not even close to done growing," Levin commented.

Levin is at the level where he is challenged enough to compete for a national championship every year and he said he is eager for the season to start because he sees big things in the future for Arizona State.